Just the facts

This is the eighth all-time meeting between Longview and Rockwall. Longview holds the series edge, 6-1.

The Lobos won last year's meeting, 36-29.

Longview is averaging 40.4 points and 426.6 yards per game -- 232.8 rushing and 193.8 passing.

The Lobos have six ball carriers who have rushed for at least 117 yards on the season, and five that have scored touchdowns.

Longview is allowing 21.6 points per game, and has forced eight turnovers -- five interceptions and three fumbles.

Rockwall is averaging 41.4 points and 467.2 yards per game -- 180 rushing and 287.2 passing.

Yellowjackets receivers Jaxon Smith and Cameron Crayton have accounted for 79 percent of the team's receiving yardage and 10 of the 14 receiving touchdowns.

Rockwall has forced just four turnovers in five games -- one interception and three fumbles.

Key matchup: Longview rushing attack vs. Rockwall defensive front. The Lobos are throwing the ball more than usual this season, but they still butter their bread with the running game. And in last week's big win over Tyler Lee, Longview ran wild by putting up 301 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Three ball carriers rushed for at least 81 yards, including junior back Keilyn Williams, who led the way with 112 yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts. He was followed by A'Darius Carter, who ran for a career-high five TD's and posted 85 yards on only nine carries. Jaquan Edwards, meanwhile, tallied 81 yards on nine rushes.

It's taken several players to fill the void left by starting running back Jessie Anderson, who was lost for the season because of an injury suffered during Week 2. But thanks to head coach John King's deep stable of backs, Longview's rushing production hasn't suffered one bit.

Rockwall will be charged with forcing the Lobos to the air, much like Mesquite Horn did two weeks ago in the Lobos' 52-34 district-opening loss. The Yellowjackets have a couple of Division I targets at linebacker -- Alston Orji (Vanderbilt commit) and Blake Barron (Oklahoma State) -- but Rockwall will need its defensive line to get penetration into the backfield as well.

Don't be surprised if: Longview continues to take shots in the passing game. It's rare for a King coached team to throw the ball as much as the Lobos have this season. Some of that has been out of necessity, and the rest has been King taking advantage of the talent he has at quarterback and receiver. When Anderson went down, Longview was going to need to open up the offense, anyway. The Lobos have used three quarterbacks -- Carter, Jordan Lawson, and Haynes King (John King's sophomore son) -- most of the season. The trio has combined to attempt 113 passes in five games, an average of 22 per contest.